AP capital: Naidu lays foundation stone for government complex

The first construction activity for building Andhra Pradesh's new capital Amaravati was initiated today with Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu laying the foundation stone for the Interim Government Complex at Velagapudi village, 16 km from here. At the auspicious 'muhurtam' of 8.23 AM, the Chief Minister laid the foundation stone and performed bhoomi pujan amidst chanting of Vedic hymns. The Interim Government Complex, also called the temporary secretariat, will be built by construction majors L&T and Shapoorji Pallonji with a total built-up area of six lakh sq ft in a 28-acre area. Another 17 acres in Velagapudi village has been earmarked for creating public facilities around the temporary secretariat. The two firms committed to complete the work by June 15 this year so that all important government offices could be shifted to the Amaravati Capital region from Hyderabad that is currently serving as the joint capital of AP and Telangana. Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the overall Capital region here on October 22 last year but the Interim Government Complex will be the first major construction activity to be taken up by the government. A few years down the line when the permanent Secretariat and other infrastructure is built in Amaravati, the IGC will be converted into a commercial complex and leased out, according to Municipal Administration Minister P Narayana. The ceremony was attended by Legislative Council Chairman A Chakrapani, Assembly Speaker Kodela Sivaprasada Rao, Deputy Chief Minister N China Rajappa, a host of ministers, bureaucrats, leaders of government employees associations and the local farmers who contributed land for the capital's construction.